Liam Payne’s funeral was, of course, invitation-only – and a star-studded guest list.
The One Direction star’s family made sure everyone who loved their only son was at St Mary’s Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, yesterday, including members of the band in 2010.
Solemn at the black funeral were Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan – four people Liam has grown up together and with whom he rose to stardom.
Walking behind the casket, Cheryl Tweedy looked stoic. Hiding her pain behind black designer glasses, the mother of Bear, the singer’s seven-year-old son, said friends, determined that Liam was given the most respectful and loving farewell.
Also in attendance were Cheryl’s fellow Girls Aloud stars Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, who mourned the death of bandmate Sarah Harding from breast cancer just three years ago.
Simon Cowell looked glum as he arrived with partner Lauren Silverman. JLS star and TV host Marvin Humes, who met Liam when he first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008, was there with his wife, singer and TV presenter Rochelle Humes.
So, there are some X Factor themes. And as a result, the day was as tense as it was tragic.
Indeed, it’s the first time Liam’s pals have been reunited since December 2016 when they gathered at the X Factor studios in London to cheer Louis on as he performed just days after his mother Johannah Deakin, 43, died of cancer.
Cheryl Tweedy, who has baby Bear with Liam Payne, attended the funeral of the late One Direction singer
Former bandmate Niall Horan attended the service held in Amersham, Buckinghamshire
“It’s tragic that the band had to get back together at a funeral for one of them,” said one friend. “They used to be close, but as in any group, there are ups and downs, people change and there are often thousands of miles between them. But they all want to be there for their old friends.
‘She has been devastated by Liam’s death. They were like brothers for their most formative years and shared a lot of history together. But facing each other in such a tragic event must be very difficult.’
Industry sources indicated there was tension between the colleagues yesterday. It would be miraculous if it didn’t exist. Gaya, wearing Gucci sunglasses, arrived with actor James Corden, Liam’s longtime friend and the rest of One Direction. They were among the first to arrive in a black limo and enter the church together.
Niall arrived separately with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, while Zayn and Louis, who are believed to remain closest to Liam, were seen talking. After the ceremony, Styles and Corden left together without any of the One Direction gang left. Zayn, who rescheduled a gig he was due to hold in Edinburgh tonight, was also seen leaving alone.
Niall left with his girlfriend, holding a copy of the service order, which featured two photos of Liam. Beaming in two snaps, there is also a request to make any donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This may be the only time in many years that the band also gets to face Cheryl. He was a judge in 2010 when the band was formed after five boys, then teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18, joined by Nicole Scherzinger.
Meanwhile, Simon Cowell, one of the last to arrive, was not seen with one of the One Direction outside the church. After the service, the music mogul was seen hugging Liam’s dad Geoff.
Some music insiders have suggested the relationship may have been strained between Cowell and Liam’s parents. Geoff has spoken openly about his grief at losing his son to fame after Cowell made Liam and his bandmates global stars, signing him to the SyCo music label. “Geoff was a very nice and kind man,” said a friend of the family. ‘He struggled with Liam becoming famous. Simon is the one who gave Liam so much, but also the one who took him as a young man, so it must be difficult for Geoff.’
X Factor judge Simon Cowell – who brought the five One Direction teenagers together in the talent show – arrived alongside partner Lauren Silverman
The music mogul was beaten to death and comforted by his singer father Geoff
Absent was Argentinian businessman Roger Nores, one of the last people to see Liam before his death. It has been claimed he is the singer’s manager, but sources say the family doesn’t want him around because he is saying goodbye.
Wolverhampton-born Liam’s funeral was just four miles from his home in the village of Chalfont Saint Giles. Surprisingly, he spends a lot of time with his young son. Many expected the funeral to take place in Wolverhampton, a place Liam held close to his heart, but Buckinghamshire is where he, Cheryl and Bear live together and where they live. Despite the split, there are some special moments they will now cherish.’
Cheryl, 41 – who yesterday wrapped up in the cold in a £2,000 velvet-trimmed wool coat by London-based brand Liberowe, accessorised with designer sunglasses and a £950 Christian Louboutin clutch – split from Liam in 2018, more than a year after their son born But there is no doubt that he was at the center of yesterday’s proceedings.
Friends say Cheryl has vowed to make sure Bear will not forget his father, who died aged 31 in the worst of circumstances on October 16, after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He died instantly and had multiple drugs including cocaine and methamphetamine in his system, the toxicology report said.
The horse-drawn carriage glistened in the sun as the procession arrived at St Mary’s Church
The sequence at Liam’s funeral yesterday, the laughing image of the singer used to celebrate his life
Cheryl is thought to be planning a ceremony with her heartbroken parents. For the couple, who raised Liam and his siblings Nicola and Ruth in a semi-modest, having a star-studded funeral seemed impossible 15 years ago, before Liam rose to fame and earned more than £30 million.
Kate Cassidy, girlfriend of American influencer Liam, came together with Damian Hurley, son of model Elizabeth Hurley for the funeral. The pair had been friends before meeting Liam two years ago.
It is believed that she met her late boyfriend’s parents for the first time despite dating since October 2022.
Kate flew to Buenos Aires in September with Liam, but left for Miami four days before her death.
The 31-year-old died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here, she is pictured at the BMI Award event in London in 2018
From left to right: One Direction members Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles in 2012
After that, Kate revealed that she was planning to get married. He told his social media followers that he had written a note saying: ‘Kate and I will be married in a year / engaged and together forever 444’ – the so-called angel number, which represents love and support.
Meanwhile a source close to the Payne family said it was “very sad” for Cheryl. ‘He was broken. She has her own sadness, but she also has a boy who will never see his father again and it’s just heartbreaking,” she said. ‘When she and Liam were separated for so long, they loved Bear.
‘Liam died in a horrible way but his family want to remember him in the most perfect way.’
Hours before the funeral at 1 p.m., crowds of people on the street – which was closed for the occasion – wanted to pay their respects to the star.
Presenter Adrian Chiles was among the guests, wearing a replica West Bromwich Albion football club manager’s jacket; a nod to Liam’s love for the team. Former footballer Robbie Keane, who played with Liam in Soccer Aid two years ago, was also there, along with new BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills.
A white horse-drawn carriage carrying Liam’s coffin arrived after guests entered the church through doors decorated with candlelight and white roses.
On top of the dark blue coffin were two wreaths, one red and white with ‘son’ written on it and another made of blue and white flowers with ‘father’ written on it – from little Bear.
